Masks and Vaccinations Prevent Covid19 Infection in Black and Latinx Adults with Moderate-to-severe Asthma: Survey Results from the PREPARE Cohort

Mask-wearing, social distancing, and vaccination are recommended behaviors to prevent Covid19 infection. We surveyed participants in the PREPARE clinical trial to assess the relationship between preventative behaviors and Covid19 infection. Between January and April 2022, PREPARE participants, African-American/Black (AA/B) and Hispanic/Latinx (H/L) adults 18 to 75 years, completed a brief (< 10 minute) survey online or by telephone interview regarding behaviors relating to Covid19 prevention and diagnosis. We assessed the association of demographics, comorbidity, asthma severity, and preventative behaviors with the risk for Covid19 infection using t-test and Chi-square test. 84% (856/1022) participants completed the survey and 48% (413) avoided indoor gatherings. The 44% (373) who wore a mask “all of the time” and the 87% (747) with at least one dose of Covid19 vaccination were more likely to be H/L (respectively: 55% vs. 45%, p = 0.04; 53% vs. 47%, p = 0.001). 321 (38%) participants had Covid19 infection, and the risk was significantly lower in those who reported mask-wearing “all of the time” compared to some of the time or rarely/never (32% vs 67%; p = 0.007), and in those who had been vaccinated (36% vs 50%; p = 0.006). Avoiding large gatherings did not reduce the risk for Covid19 infection. A significant proportion of AA/B and H/L adults with high-risk asthma reported preventative behavioral changes in response to the Covid19 pandemic. Compared to AA/B, H/L were more likely to wear masks and pursue Covid19 vaccination and these behaviors may prevent Covid19 infection.